So it happened without you even realizing what you were doing. You were on eBay and you found a fantastic deal on a box truck, one you’ve always wanted. It’s small enough that you don’t need a CDL and big enough that you can haul some real goods. Without thinking, you hit “buy now” and went to bed, happy with yourself and your smart purchase.
However, you just had to tell your wife about what happened, and she’s less than amused. “My love,” she says, “just what are you going to do with that thing?” With a sheepish grin, you answer by listing one or more of the fantastic side hustles below. These side gigs will more than pay for your impulse buy, bring in a little fun money, and justify your rash (if wise) purchasing option to your long-suffering better half.
Finding a Job That Works for You
So you’ve told your wife that you’re going to make money with your box truck. Now what? First, you need to do like the headline says: brainstorm a few gig ideas that make sense for you and your truck. You’re probably not going to become the next Bill Gates with any of these jobs, but you can at least pay for your truck and get a little money for your retirement fund.
You’re going to have to do a lot of hard thinking over the next few days and will probably need at least the help of a buddy or two to figure out what you’re going to do. Don’t worry: there are plenty of amazing things that you can do to make money with that goofy truck in your yard. Make sure that any side hustle that you start:
- Works Around Your Main Gig — Hey, we all have a day job, and that should be where your bread is mainly buttered. So if you want to make money with your box truck, you have to find a way to work around it. Be prepared to do a lot of weekend work or late evening driving.
- Doesn’t Frustrate Your Family — If you’re one of those rare unicorns who doesn’t have a family, you don’t have to worry about this problem at all. But if you have a partner and kids, you need to make sure that your side hustle doesn’t interfere with your time together. Bring the wife and kids along if you can!
- Feels Right to You — Ultimately, you are the ultimate judge of what kind of side hustle suits you. Don’t jump head-first into anything that seems outside your interests or too hard to handle. But don’t be afraid to challenge yourself, either. After all: it’s your risk-taking that got you into this mess in the first place.
And before you take up any side hustle with your box truck, you need to examine the truck itself and gauge what kind of gig it can handle. Be honest about its condition. Do you think the engine can handle a lot of big hauls? Is the box in good shape? Do you notice any rust or any problems around the box or anywhere on the truck that could make your side hustle a sudden money pit if the truck fails?
Just as importantly, you need to get into your box and measure its size. The size of your box will dictate just what you can get into it and what gig you’ll be able to start. Once you have these basic steps done, you can sit down, have a drink, and start thinking about side hustles that you’d like to do.
Hustles That You May Love
By now, you should be pretty excited to start your new side hustle. We don’t blame you, as many of these gigs can be surprisingly profitable if you put in enough work. Some guys may even want to quit their full-time job and start a new business based around these hustles. We’re not saying you have to do that, of course. Doing so gives you more freedom to succeed and fail, so choose with care.
Delivery Services
Do you feel like hauling a lot of goods for small businesses? Then you may want to use your box truck as a delivery service. Don’t rush up to Walmart or Target and expect to get business, though. Even if it would be lucrative for you, these bigger corporations already have large-scale delivery options. Instead, focus on your local shops and provide inexpensive services that they can afford. The largeness of your box will make it easier to move many goods over a short time for many customers.
Moving Business
Are you someone in shape or who likes doing a lot of heavy work? Then you can start up a moving business. There are rarely enough companies providing this type of service, and you can make good cash if you get a strong reputation. Though the work here is strenuous and may wear down your body, it is possible to clear several hundreds of dollars with each gig.
Junk Removal
You’ve probably seen messy yards that suddenly turned clean overnight and wondered what kind of magic was at play. Most likely, the yard owners called junk removal experts. This side hustle is a bit like a moving business, except you take everything right to the dump. You have to be fast and efficient in this type of job, though. Focus on estate sales to get the most cash on this side hustle.
Advertising
If you like driving around and don’t mind putting some wear and tear on your truck, you can rent it out for advertising. Just find somebody willing to pay you to drive around town with an ad on your truck, and you can make surprisingly good money. This option may be a bit too passive for some, though, and is often quite dull after a while. You may need to take shifts with your partner or a few buddies.
The Choice is Yours
If you’re willing to work hard and put in some long hours on your day off, you can turn that surprise investment into a profitable venture. Use the cash to both pay off the truck and repair any issues it may develop. And make sure that your wife gets her fair share of the money. After all, her disapproving stare likely got you working hard in the first place!